Braille typewriting machine



June 1954 E. FREY' EI'AL BRAILLE TYPEWRITING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1951 a fi ka INVENTORS. 502mm! a Cooper 19a 1% June 8, 1954 E. FREY ETAL 2,680,507

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Patented June 8, 1954 2,680,507 BRAILLE TYPEWRITIN G MACHINE Erik Frey and Samuel A. Cooper, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 17, 1951,

9 Claims.

This invention adapter ing the relates to a Braille typewriter on an ordinary typewriter.

It is an object of this invention to increase the ard typewriter.

It is a further object of this invention to simplify vention. For purposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit, and the accompanying drawings are detailed, but it is distinctly to be understood that said exposition is In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a ected typewriter and adaptor unit in section; V

Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain encoded bars and associated switches, normally mounted in or below the typewriter, with certain other parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the encoded bars and other parts shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail, diagrammatic view of the six encoded bars illustrating the key voiding notches and their relation to the adaptor unit;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the typewriter keys as visualized by the blind person and which keys coact with the encoded bars;

Fig. .7 is a sectional view taken upon the line Serial No. 216,178

1-1 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken upon the line 88 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a detail plan of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken upon the line I0-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional llll of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring diagram.

Like reference characters designate like parts in the drawings and in the description thereof following hereafter.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the construction and operation of the several view taken upon the line ters in the ordinary alphabet.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown a Braille writer I overlying a Braille Writer actuating unit 8. The unit 8 is connected by a cable H to an adaptor unit 9 which is positioned beneath a typewriter Hi. The electrical cover through which the upper portions of the bars project. The box has a bottom 23 and transverse end walls 24 which are provided with vertical guide slots shown as flat grooves as (Fig. l). These guide grooves 25 are suitably spaced and of sufiicient vertical extension to allow the encoded bars therein to descend into and remain in direct engagement with the upwardly spring pressed pins 29 of Microswitches 2i resting upon the bottom of the box. There is a Microswitch 2'5 at each end of each encoded bar. When referring to Microswitches we mean the precision snap switches sold under that trademark. We mean particularly those equipped with a longitudinally-here vertically-shiftable pin 26, biased toward one side-here upwardly-by suitable well known spring means, not shown herein. These spring means are used herein not only to provide a normal (open) position of the switches but also directly to support the encoded bars. Bracket members 72% extend from each of the end members 24, and are adapted to extend over the side walls of the typewriter ill for attachment thereto. Set screws 22 are provided to secure the adaptor unit 9 in place.

Thus, each encoded bar is guided by the slots in the cover and by the end grooves 25 in the end wallmembers 24 and is adapted for closing a switch at either end depending on whether it is depressed by a type lever adjacent either end.

Arms 28 extend from the adaptor unit 6 and are at suitable elevations to support Microswitches 28 which are adapted to be actuated by shift levers having keys 3i and 3i (Fig. 1). It will be understood that when the key levers depress the spring pressed pins 26, the springs will return the levers when the same are released. Attention, however, is directed to the fact that the key shift levers as and 31 merely actuate the switches 29 on the arms 28.

A third arm 98 extends from the adaptor unit e and provides support for a Microswitch at, which is actuated by the space bar 93 of the typewriter to.

In referring now to Fig. 5, which shows the six encoded bars in diagrammatic form, it will be noted that each is provided along its upper edge portion with rectangular notches. For example, the bar 1 is provided with notches la; the bar 2 is provided with notches 2a, and so on. notches may be termed key avoiding notches in that when a key lever is depressed, it will not actuate those encoded bars having a notch directly thereunder. Thus the ke lever marked Q will actuate encoded bars l, 2, 3, i and 5, but not bar 6. Key lever A will actuate only encoded bar l since each of the other bars has a notch directly under such lever. Thus one or more encoded bars can be simultaneously actuated and the circuits controlled thereby closed.

Referring now to Fig. '7, there is shown a frame generally denoted by the reference 32 having ball bearings 33 for supporting a carriage for travelling movements. A aper holding scroll as is mounted in the carriage 55 and the paper or work sheet is led over the paper feed roll 35 and under a spring presser 35 to the anvil 31 on a frame member 38. Beneath the anvil 31, there is a slotted head 39 on the vertical frame member it. Six Braille embossing rods lia, Mb, ilo, Md, Me, and M are slidably mounted in the slotted head 39 for embossing dots in the work sheet against the anvil 31. These rods did-elf are pivoted at their lower ends to levers Mar-e21 which are pivoted intermediate their ends upon These pins 43 extending from the frame member 40. The other ends of the levers Kim-42f are pivotally connected to links lea-44f, respectively, which in turn are connected to levers d5 pivoted at 66 and connected to key levers Q1 having upturned ends 48 with keys 49. But the levers A"! are not usually operated by the keys 49, but by solenoids as will now appear.

Each lever 41 is connected by a link 5% which in turn is connected at its lower end to a solenoid operated lever 5|. The solenoid lever M is pivoted at its remote end to a support 52 and at an intermediate point to the armature 53 of a solenoid 54. Energization of the solenoid 5 will draw the armature 53 downwardly and move lever #55 so as to force the appropriate lever i2 to elevate its embossing rod 41 which is connected thereto. Fig. 7 merely shows three embossing rods, but it will be understood that there are six which are all operated by solenoids as just explained.

During the operation of the Braille writer I, the carriage 55 may be spaced and the paper feed roll as advanced by any suitable typewriter mechanism. In the embodiment of the drawing this mechanism comprises a motor 55 which is geared to a shaft 51 journalled in a standard .38. A gear 59 is secured to the shaft El between the motor and standard and this gear 5Q meshes with a gear ti? on a stub shaft 6| supported by the standari 58. The gear 5D meshes with a gear 552 secured to a shaft 83 journalled in the standard 58 and extending therethrough and fixedly carrying a ribbon reel 65 upon which a ribbon 65, connected at one end to the carriage 55, is adapted to be wound. The gearing described constitutes a reduction gearing that will reduce the speed of the motor 56. Thus operation of the motor will rotate the reel it and wind up the carriage return ribbon 65. To stop the motor 55 at the proper time when the carriage has been returned, there is provided the following mechanism:

The shaft 5'! extends through the standard 58 and carries a gear 66 fast thereon, which gear meshes with a gear 61 fast upon a shaft 68 journalled in standard 58 and a similar standard 69 which also supports one end of the reel shaft 63. A small gear H3 is secured. to shaft 83 in spaced relation to gear 6! and this gear to meshes with a larger gear H secured to a shaft 12 journalled in standard 83 and extending therethrough and fix edly carrying a earn 13 having a rise ill adapted for opening a Microswitch in the motor circuit and stopping the motor 56. The gearing between the motor 25 and the cam 73 is designed to out out the motor when the carriage 55 has been re turned.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown mechanism for rotating the paper feed roll 35 to advance the paper in line spacing direction. The roll 35 is secured to a shaft 16 projecting through a support I? carried by the carriage. An indexing cam '58 is secured to the shaft '13 between the end of the roll and the casing. This cam has equally spaced depressions or dwells 19 into which a conventional spring loaded retainer (not shown) is adapted to snap as the paper roll 35 is rotated. A knob Bl! is secured to the end of the roll shaft 15 for rotating the paper feed roll 35 manually if occasion requires.

The paper feed roll 35 is designed to be automatically advanced each time the carriage 55 is moved to starting position. To this end, a ratchet 8i is secured upon the roll shaft 16 for engages ment by a pawl 82 pivoted to a lever 83 journalled upon the shaft 16 as an axis. The plunger 84 of the solenoid 85 is connected to the pawl 82 th rough means of the carriage return and paratus thus described, the Braille writer 1 may Referring now to Fig. 7, the Braille writer actuating unit 8 is provided with pivoted key levers mary actuating means.

Referring now to Fig. 12 which illustrates somewhat schematically the electrical control circuit of our invention, the Microswitches 2! operated by the encoded bars I to 6 are here designated noted that only one switch I, 2, each of the six bars I, 2, etc.'; in other words, the two Microswitches are connected in parallel, so that it is a matter of indiiference Whether a bar I, 2, etc. is depressed adjacent either end or in the middle. The

the typewriter adaptor unit 9, there is included is actuated by the space bar 98, and a motor and carswitch I 90 is likewise in series with both the motor 54 and the solenoid 85 (Fig. 8). Accordingly,

the corresponding solenoids 54-! to 54-6 are energized and their associated embossing rods 4la4lj are actuated to imprint upon Advantageously, the useof the reverse shift solenoid 99 enables the user of 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of encoded, substantially horizontal bars extending along l and means conmeeting said solenoids and members.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of Braille embossing members for embossing dots in a plurality of solenoids, one operatively connected to each member, a circuit for each of said solenoids, a plurality of operating switches, means for selectively closing said operating switches, a gang switch interconnecting said operating switches and said solenoid circuits, said gang switch in different positions interconnecting said operating switches with different solenoid circuits, and means for moving said gang switch to difierent positions.

4. Apparatus oi the class described in claim 3, in which said means for closing said operating switches comprises a plurality of encoded bars each positioned to close a different one of said switches upon being moved downwardly, said en coded bars each having a plurality of notches in the upper edge thereof, and a plurality of finger operated levers positioned above said encoded bars for engaging unnotched portions of said bars.

5. Apparatus or" the class described in claim 3, in which said means for moving said gang switch to difierent positions comprises a solenoid operatively connected to said gang switch, a normally open switch in series with said solenoid, and a finger operated key for closing said solenoid switch.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of Braille embossing members for embossing dots in a sheet of paper or the like in two parallel rows, a plurality of solenoids, one operatively connected to each member, a circuit for each of said solenoids, a plurality of operating, but normally open switches, a gang switch interconnecting said solenoid circuits and said operating switches, said gang switch in a first position connecting half of the operating switches to the solenoids for making one row of dots and the other half of the operating switches to the solenoids for making the second row of dots, said gang switch in a second position interchanging the connections between said operating switches and said solenoids for making each row of dots, means for changing the position of said gang switch, and finger operated levers for simultaneously closing one or more of said operating switches.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of finger operated levers, six encoded bars beneath said levers and extending transversely thereof in spaced relation, said bars each having notches in its upper edge for avoiding engagement by certain levers, a switch for and actuated by each encoded bar to close upon downward movement of said bar, six solenoids and six Braille embossing members each actuated by a different one of said solenoids, said embossing members positioned to emboss dots in paper or the like in two vertical parallel rows of three dots each, a circuit for each of said solenoids, a gang switch one side of which is connected to said bar actuated switches, the other side of said gang switch being connected to said circuits of said solenoids so that alternate positions of said gang switch connect said bar actuated switches to said solenoids for actuating embossing members in difierent rows but in the same relative position within each row, and means for positioning said gang switch in either one of said alternate positions.

8. Apparatus of the type defined in claim 7, in which said gang switch positioning means comprises a solenoid mechanically coupled to said switch, a circuit for said solenoid, and a key operated switch in said circuit for selectively energizing said solenoid.

9. In an apparatus of plurality of finger encoded bars beneath said levers and extending transversely thereof in spaced relation, said bars each having notches in their upper edges for avoiding engagement by certain levers, a switch positioned beneath each encoded bar to close upon downward movement of said bar, a plurality of solenoids equal in number to said bars, a plurality of Braille embossing members each actuated by a difierent one of said solenoids, a circuit for each of said solenoids, a gang switch one side of which is connected to said switches beneath said encoded bars, the other side or said gang switch being connected to said circuits of said solenoids so that alternate positions of said gang switch connect said bar actuated switches to different solenoid circuits, and means for positioning said gang switch in either one of said alternate positions.

the class described, a

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,614 Nolan Mar. 4, 1890 1,767,247 Kurowski June 2%, 1930 2,543,435 Buckley Feb. 27, i FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 552,352 France Jan. 19, 1923 operated levers, a plurality of 

